There are no official guidelines to assist in answering this question. I will search for relevant research papers instead.
The FDA Drug Labels for ciprofloxacin (PO) do not address this question.
From the Research
Ciprofloxacin Use in Cellulitis Treatment
- Ciprofloxacin has been studied as a potential treatment for cellulitis, with some studies indicating its effectiveness 1.
- A study from 1986 found that 19 of 20 patients with cellulitis or other bacterial soft-tissue infections were clinically cured or improved after treatment with oral ciprofloxacin 1.
- Another study from 2009 used oral ciprofloxacin and clindamycin to treat orbital cellulitis, with all patients responding to the oral regimen and no complications reported 2.
- However, a systematic review and meta-analysis from 2019 found that there is no evidence to support the superiority of any one antibiotic, including ciprofloxacin, over another for the treatment of cellulitis 3.
- A more recent network meta-analysis from 2024 did not specifically rank ciprofloxacin as a top option for cellulitis treatment, but rather highlighted other antibiotics such as cefaclor and pristinamycin 4.
Efficacy and Safety of Ciprofloxacin
- The efficacy of ciprofloxacin in treating cellulitis has been demonstrated in some studies, but its use may not be recommended for life-threatening staphylococcal infections 5.
- Ciprofloxacin has been shown to be safe and effective for a wide variety of clinical infections, but further study is required to fully understand its potential in treating cellulitis 5.
- The use of oral ciprofloxacin has been found to be as safe and effective as intravenous therapy in the management of orbital cellulitis 2.